This easy method turns an economical cut of beef into super tender, flavorful Deli Style Roast Beef. Skip the deli and make your own lunch meat at home!
I’ve been a regular at the grocery store deli counter for most of my adult life. It’s so convenient to have sliced deli meat on hand when you have a lot of people to feed every day and lunches to pack for work. Since my husband requests deli roast beef be added to the grocery list every week, I decided it was time to try and create my own deli roast beef at home.
Friends, the result is nothing short of amazing! This recipe has opened my eyes to inexpensive cuts of beef and what can be done with them.
There is technique involved in properly cooking an inexpensive beef roast. I go through that process in detail in my recipe for Tender Eye of Round Roast Beef with Gravy. This is the same base recipe but instead of slicing and serving it with gravy for dinner, it is chilled and thinly sliced to create the most delicious roast beef sandwiches we’ve ever had.
This recipe yields a Deli Style Roast Beef that is far lower in sodium than the store bought variety. You can reduce the sodium even more by adjusting the amount of salt used. Just one of the many benefits to making your own deli meat at home!
Ingredient Notes
The Best Cut for Deli Style Roast Beef
My favorite cut and the one tested for this recipe is the eye of round roast. It is a lean, flavorful, and relatively inexpensive cut of beef. It requires a special roasting technique to cook it to tender perfection. But fear not! It is incredibly easy and foolproof if you follow the directions. My local Costco regularly carries a two-pack of prime eye of round roasts at a great price. This cut should be easy to find at most grocery store chains.
Although I haven’t tested it for myself, I believe this recipe would also work well with a top or bottom round roast. One of my recipe testers used a top sirloin roast with a fabulous result leading me to believe that a sirloin tip roast would also be a good choice.
Roast Beef Seasoning Mix
A mixture of dry spices creates a flavorful crust as the roast cooks. I’m betting most, if not all of these spices are likely stocked in your pantry. Kosher salt has more oomph than table salt and I highly recommend using it in dry rubs like this one. Granulated garlic has a grainy texture and I prefer it over garlic powder for this spice mix but either can be used. In addition you’ll need freshly ground black pepper, rosemary, thyme, onion powder, and paprika.
How to Make Deli Style Roast Beef
The most important aspect to ensuring a perfectly pink and tender result is to watch the roast closely towards the end of the cooking time. Check the temperature as directed in the recipe card below with an instant read thermometer. Do not allow it to roast beyond 135 F. for the best result.
- Remove your roast from the refrigerator and allow it to rest on the counter for 1 hour to take the chill off. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 500 degrees. Pat your roast with paper towels to dry the surface coat all sides of the roast with olive oil. Sprinkle all sides with the dry rub mixture. Place your roast on a wire rack on a foil lined baking sheet with the fat cap side facing up.
- Transfer to the preheated oven and roast for 15 minutes or until nicely browned. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F and continue to roast for another 40 to 50 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 130 to no more than 135 degrees F. (medium rare). Begin checking the temperature after 35 minutes by inserting an instant read thermometer through the center of the roast from the side.
- Allow the roast to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Even better, allow it to rest for 20 to 30 minutes then wrap it with foil and refrigerate it for several hours or overnight.
- Slice it across the grain as thinly as possible. Whether you are using a meat slicer or sharp knife, it will be easier to get nice, deli style thin slices if the roast is chilled.
How to Store Cooked Roast Beef
Wrap the cooled, sliced roast beef in heavy duty foil and place the foil packet in a plastic storage bag. Label it with the date and refrigerate it immediately. It can also be stored in shallow, airtight deli meat container.
This Deli Style Roast Beef should be refrigerated and used within 3 to 4 days for the best quality and food safety concerns.
For longer storage, I recommend portioning it out and sealing it with a vacuum sealer. Vacuum sealed deli meat stored in the refrigerator will stay fresh for up to 10 days. Pop it in the freezer and store it for up to 2 to 3 months. Safely thaw frozen cooked meat completely in the refrigerator before serving. No vacuum sealer? Wrap the deli meat securely in wax paper and then a layer of heavy duty foil before freezing.
Serving Suggestions
- Pile it on your favorite bread or sandwich rolls with a variety of toppings for super tasty roast beef sandwiches for lunch or an easy dinner.
- Add it to your next charcuterie tray, even if it’s just a casual Netflix and chill snacking session!
- Smear slices with a little softened cream cheese and roll it around blanched asparagus for tasty Roast Beef Rollups.
- Use it to make delicious Italian Roast Beef Sliders.
Deli Style Roast Beef
Video
Ingredients
- 2 ½ to 3 ½ pound eye of round roast, (top or bottom round or top sirloin or sirloin tip also work well)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or enough to generously coat all sides
Roast Beef Seasoning Mix
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried crushed rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ¾ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Remove your roast from the refrigerator and allow it to rest on the counter for 45 minutes to 1 hour to take the chill off.
- Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 500 degrees F.
- Combine all the Roast Beef Seasoning Mix ingredients in a small bowl.
- Pat your roast with paper towels to dry the surface and then drizzle with olive oil and use your hands to rub the olive oil, coating all sides of the roast.
- Sprinkle all sides, including the ends, with the seasoning mix. Place your roast on a rack in a roasting pan with the fat cap side facing up.
- Transfer to the preheated oven and roast for 15 minutes until nicely browned. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F and continue to roast for another 40 to 50 minutes or until internal temperature reads 130 and no more than 135 degrees F. (medium rare). Begin checking temperature after 35 minutes by inserting an instant read thermometer through the center of the roast from the side. Watch it closely because the temperature can rise quickly towards the end of the cooking time. I don’t recommend cooking this roast beyond 135 degrees for the most tender, delicious result.
- Remove from the oven and allow it to rest for 20 to 30 minutes before slicing. Alternately, after the resting time, wrap the roast in foil and refrigerate it for several hours or overnight before slicing. It will be easier to slice thinly when chilled.
- Use a meat slicer or a sharp knife to slice the roast against the grain as thinly as possible.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
Although I had to adjust time due to using a near 6lb eye of round, it came out perfectly! As I wanted it finished at 130, I pulled it out at 120.
This is the best recipe for deli roast beef. Followed recipe and turned out great.
This is a great recipe! I have done it 2 times now to great reviews from all who have tried it! I will admit I create my own dry rub and include a bit of honey but the method is fantastic
Last time I did a boneless pork loin roast (NOT tenderloin) along side and that was great too!
Thank you so much no more nitrates and fillers in this household!
Happy to hear it worked well with a pork loin. Thanks so much!
I’m wondering what this will be like straight out of the oven. Could I eat half right away as roast beef dinner and then cool and slice the rest for deli meat?
Hi Michelle. Check out my recipe for Eye of Round Roast with Gravy. You could for sure serve it for dinner and wrap the remaining roast in foil to slice the next day.
looking to try this recipe. any tips on cooking it in an instant pot?
Hi Tas. I wouldn’t recommend cooking this recipe in a pressure cooker. You’d be better off trying my Instant Pot Pot Roast.
My absolute go-to recipe for roast beef. I won’t purchase it from the deli anymore because making it at home is now so easy and inexpensive. I have used eye of round and top round roasts and perhaps prefer the latter. I sometimes leave out the rosemary, sometimes the paprika, depending on my mood. I grind everything up in the coffee grinder before patting it all over the roast which is on an oiled piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil on a baking sheet.. I like my meat rare, so I roast at 500° for 10 minutes and then at 300° for usually 25 -30 more minutes, then I let it rest for 30 minutes before refrigerating for a few hours. I slice it as thinly as possible using my mother’s old meat slicer (seriously , it’s well over 40 years old). It tastes better than the deli, costs a lot lot less, freezes beautifully, and is perfect for sandwiches, french dips, etc. This recipe is a 5⭐ winner!
Question, what size roast were you using?
You’ll typically find eye of round roasts in the 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 pound range.
I have made this a few times….. My roast is currently coming to room temp before I make it again.
Serving suggestions? Just a shovel – or your fingers. I shovel too many slices in my mouth as I slice the roast. I shovel too many slices in my mouth as I individually vacuum seal portions. And I shovel too many slices in my mouth as I prepare a serving – which means I don’t end up with enough for a sandwich!
Haha! Thanks for the laugh, Sarah.:) I totally get it!
This was my first time trying to make roast beef at home and with this recipe … I nailed it! Easy. Flavorful. Exactly what I needed. I made it into a sandwich with some hoagie buns, provolone cheese and au jus for dipping – with plenty for leftovers. Will definitely be making again.
I tried this today and I let the meat chill overnight before I put it through my deli slicer. Fantastic recipe overall, good seasonings that’s flavorful but won’t overpower other ingredients used in a sandwich. Add some grey poupon and mayo into your sandwich to help elevate this beef. I’m saving this recipe so I never lose it. If you’re making sandwiches, I recommend bottom round or top round beef roasts.
Hi! This recipe is good but I would suggest also listing a temperature for a rarer finish, 125 degrees is actually better. My roast came out too well done at 130 degrees.
I’m at 45 minutes for a 3.2 lb roast and it’s only at 108°. I did the 500° first and it looked beautiful but the timing to 130-135° is not accurate at 300°. I’m actually glad because the rest of the meal isn’t finished cooking yet. I usually Use this cut, Eye of Round, Prime from Costco for making our dog’s food in the Instant pot, but had 7 lbs in 2 of them, so your recipe looked perfect to try as my mom used to make this weekly growing up. It smells sooo good, can’t wait!
Your vacuum sealed times are way too short. Vac in the refrigerator can easily keep for a month or more (look at expire dates of supermarket deli foods). In the freezer, vac food can easily go for a year.
Supermarket deli foods typically contain preservatives like nitrates. Just one of the reasons I like to make my own at home! My recommendations come from the FDA’s and USDA’s food safety guidelines for cooked beef.